Monday, April 11, 2016

Manhattan Art College Professor Faces Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for Racial Discrimination against Students

Sexual comments laden with racially
offensive language made against former female students has landed a Manhattan
Art College professor in deep legal trouble. It also became apparent that the
lawsuit has brought allegations against the school as well, which ignored
complaints made by the students.

Nydailynews.com reveals that New York
Academy of Art professor, Wade Schuman, who has been teaching at the college
for 20 years, was named in a lawsuit brought by four of his former students.

The lawsuit mentions that he
touched Sarah Novio inappropriately, racially targeted a Hispanic student Jehdy
Vargas, and subjected Camilla Yoshimoto and Magly Vega-lopez to sexual
harassment and discrimination, which could potential be a case of quid pro quo
harassment in the opinion of sexual harassment lawyers, depending on several
factors, where the employer may be held liable for
failing to take note of the harassment.

The three Hispanic women and the
one Asian woman took the professor’s class during 2014-2015 at different times
when they were studying there to get their master’s degree.

The Incidents that Led to the Lawsuit

53 year old Schuman is a well-known
painter. According to the lawsuit he had bullied Vargas repeatedly for coming
from the Dominican Republican. On one occasion when she had arrived late for
class, he had asked if being late is a Spanish thing. On another occasion he
had asked her whether she would like to bring some Santeria people to do a
chicken sacrifice. Schuman, what are you thinking? Are you out of your mind?

Schuman, he must believe this is
1940 or something. It is not 1948 Schuman!

Vargas complained about the
incident to the school administration. Schuman having learned about the
complaint tried to intimidate her by entering into the elevator with Vargas
unnecessarily and as Vargas pointed out in the lawsuit that he had no business being
there. Schuman, looks like you will be out of job soon.

Schuman had also allegedly grasped
Novio’s wrist and touched her multiple times and each time she had felt
uncomfortable when he had done that.

University’s Response to the Complaints

In reply to the complaint that
Vargas made, the school administration cited an absurd rule. They said that in
order to fire Schuman they will need at least three instances. In lieu of
punishing him, Vargas was offered tuition reimbursement which the lawsuit had
described as a slap on her face.

Vargas and Yoshimoto, both in their
early 30s, had also reported the professor’s unwanted sexual conduct to the
dean who downplayed the entire incident as ‘Wade being Wade’. Hilarious! What
are they thinking?! This is like The Walking Dead at the end of season 5 when
the mayor and the people living in Alexandria just did not get it. Rick Grimes
had to teach them a lesson the hard way!

Sexual harassment attorney Eric
Baum of Eisenberg and Baum LLP described the professor’s behavior as
despicable. He said that the failure of the school to take the complaints
seriously and investigate the matter was equally disturbing. One wrong became
two wrongs.

This website (Sexual-Harassment-USAttorneys) is not wrong. Using this website is certainly not
wrong. Fighting against the power is an American right and basically an
American hallmark. The Chinese are finally getting some rights in their own
country against big power and big government but that is another topic.

You have every right to be upset if
a professor slashes your race or gender, in a sexual manner or not, in front of
the class or in an empty classroom. Use that website to find the legal help you
need.

Vargas’s Performance and Response
it Elicited

In a bid to protest the university’s
refusal to give due attention to the complaint Vargas acted out a chicken
sacrifice as a performance piece in front of Sotheby’s where an auction was
organized by the university in October.

The university described the
lawsuit and Vargas’s protest as a vitriolic public campaign aimed at harassing
Mr. Schuman. The university’s spokesperson also said that the Academy had
received hundreds of expressions of support for Professor Schuman mainly from
his alumni, staff, and current students.

Angharad Coates, the university
spokesperson, also claimed that the school had conducted an extensive
investigation with the aid of an outside agency in adherence with the school
policy. She said that the university is confident the court will resolve the
matter in favor of Schuman and the Academy.

The students are seeking monetary
compensation from the college for racial gender and national discrimination,
sexual harassment, and emotional distress and other charges.

Are all the students that supported
Schuman white? That is what some people want to know.